410Custom's builds a 2007 Ranger V8 - custom truck build - Project "Ranger Premier"

[410Fortune]

Okay she’s running pretty well
This is on the old tune, made for the “old” engine




First run around the house real quick

Still running good, not going lean, all seems well

If you notice we solved a few exhaust leaks this time around with the improved remflex gaskets

I then let her heat soak after watching the thermostat open and checked all
Fluids… started and ran her again through a couple of heat cycles. She’s consistent which is good

Now for the bad news
The b&m rear differential cover has lost one of its hold down nuts…. No biggie right? Except now the stud turns on waaaaay too far… so I’m thinking the cap came off on the inside. So I am now pulling the rear cover and replacing the fluid. I cannot drive it around until this is solved for fear of the mia piece getting into the gears or locker.
Needed to change the diff fluid anyways, but wasn’t planning to do it like this

I picked up a timing light
The tuner and I on the phone were able to teach me how to check the timing and adjust it with the Holley if needed…. Timing sounds good to me, but will check with $34 harbor freight light

Next I just need to install the fan shroud and put some miles on it
Eddie coming to town at 2:30 am Sunday am (Amtrak only comes into Sandpoint late at night) plan is to drive her home Sunday

Old tune cost Eddie $1000 thus far… seems to be running okay with this new engine. She is smoooth and quiet, way more quiet then my sport trax

As always stay tuned

 

[Rick]

I haven’t owned a timing light since I had a 2.9l about 32 years ago

I still use my Craftsmen timing light and RPM/Dwell meter from the late 70s.

 

[allmyEXes]

Looking good. While apart, tack the inside nut to the stud. Both of them.

 

[410Fortune]

Exactly my thoughts can’t believe it can come apart???? We got this cover during Covid because the arb version was on 2 year backorder
She’s draining right now
Glad I keep 5 gallons of 85-140 in stock w a hand pump

Sure enough found the piece down in the sump thank goodness
Air line okay
The end of the stud is a ball socket w reverse thread????? I dont think I can tack weld this as it needs to spin

Conditions must have been perfect for it to come off.. it has to be exactly straight to the stud and reverse threaded to come off
What I was able to do is add a little pinch… now it can still spin but never come apart

Wish I kept 8.8 gaskets in stock this suckers just getting rtv today

 

[JoshT]

Well at the moment it sounds like you're having more success than me, even with the diff cover problems.
I've been driving this truck regularly on the stock tune and 19lb injectors. Even daily drove it for about a week and a half since finishing the exhaust debacle. I know that the systems are functioning well, or at least they were as of yesterday morning when I opened it up and the speed limiter cut in at 105. It's about a mile straight stretch of empty country farm road, so a "safe spot".

Recieved my tunes from Lasota for the engine with modifications and 24lb injectors while at work yesterday. As mentioned in post 1532 I started taking the intake apart to install the new injectors as soon as I got home. Finished putting it back together today. Now it'll barely even move down the driveway. Forget about pushing the throttle. Feels like it's only running on a couple of cylinders. I'd get the occasional burst of power. Also in when first put into reverse it feels strong, but looses power fairly quickly. In drive it has no power practically from the start, but I'm always going from reverse to drive, so that may be conicidence.

Since yesterday (thursday) morning I've only removed the intake plenum, replaced injectors, and reinstalled the intake plenum. I removed and disconnected as little as possible to do so. Coil packs were repositioned with wires still attached, so I didn't cross up anything there. I left EGR, elbow, and throttlebody attached to the plenum. Near as I can tell every connector and vacuum line is reattached.

Tomorrow I'm going to look it over again for anything obvious. Then I'm going to hook the smoke tester back into the intake duct and make sure I didn't create a new leak. If I can get my hands on it in short notice I'll connect a fuel pressure tester, it was running fine before, but just in case. After all of that fails, I'll try the other tune. Lasota sent both a 87 and a 91 octane tune. I started with the 91 because I filled the tank from nearly empty on 93 last week.


Wait I lied, I also installed a new intake duct that a guy on another forum got for me. It looked better than the one I had, but I guess that I need to check it over again tomorrow too.

 

[Paul]

As always stay tuned

That's some subtle humor right there. . .

Kidding aside, glad you are getting it all sorted; FTW!

Paul

 

[allmyEXes]

@410Fortune What do the 2 differential cover bolts do anyway? I was wondering if you could screw a pair of these in backwards then put a nut on them? I couldn't find a bolt with the hex (Allen head) in the head of the bolt and hex on the threaded end.

 

[410Fortune]

These differential covers have what I call A “stud girdle” built in.
The thick center portion of the cover acts as a truss and the bolts are tightened up against the main bearing caps… adding strength to the rear differential center section.
Similar to a sohc upper oil pan with its bearing cap supports, it helps keep things rigid.

Ford Motorsport Special Vehicle Operations made the first ones I ever saw, way back in the day and I asked the same question.

I think you can still get the SVO ones? Not sure. Arb makes a nice one, this B&M is basically a clone, not terrible but imo the studs should not be able to come apart inside the diff? I mean who is engineering this stuff?

I came up with a clever way to tighten the stud and then hold it tight while cinching the jam nut. Difficult to do with the nuts recessed in the hole…will share with you guys this morning.

The solution came to me in the middle of the night, you know that dark part of the day when you are supposed to be resting… lol
Silicon is setup, cover and housing were cleaned, cover installed.. diff can now be filled.

Short list of things to do today
She drives to Seattle tomorrow
I’m gonna put some miles on it and get some video


Final stretch!
hahaha stretch see what I did there? Bearing cap supports keep it rigid so it can’t…. Anyways moving on

 

[vroomzoomboom]

have one one my truck. first as a decorative piece, but now its probably useful. i did have a svo cover that was supposed to go on my carpi, never made it there. that cover had more miles on then installed. bought it off former mod jeff harris (svo). so it came from texas, but he brought it with him to all ford nationals and gave it to me in person (carlisle, pa). then home (selikirk, manitoba, canada). then down to turdle in humbolt, ks for powdercoating then back to me, then sold it to a guy 5 hours from me in ontario,, canada. he put it on his mustang, but then sold the car to a guy in winnipeg manitoba. i think jeff bought it from someone in pa as well.

sorry for the long winded story......

 

[410Fortune]

No problem I love that stuff! Explorerforum has a deep history at my house m, been here since the 90’s and still many years of wrenching left to do.. now that elevators are over I can do what I love the most! This sick and twisted torture chamber we call wrenching on rbv!!

Good news! It’s raining all over our road and now it’s a slush disaster! Will make for some fun 4 wheeling today in blue

 

[allmyEXes]

After it is conservatively driven back home, will it need a re-tune since you were unable to do that with your internet connection?

 

[410Fortune]

Yes
And some fine tuning was still needed even with the old engine to solve drivability issues and any hot start issues
We never made it that far
However instead of returning it to “wizard”‘mode for more “self learning” we are running it on the tune that was in there.. even with the wb02 sensor moved downstream and reading both banks
Take it easy on this engine until it is fully tuned is the name of the game
I am not replacing another one, well at least not under “warranty” lol but I’m always down to help Eddie is family

“Through socket” for the win

All snugged up and tight with loctite

 

[410Fortune]

This is ridiculous
All was fine
Installed fan shroud
Now the Holley is red for air to fuel
Red means the 02 sensor it unplugged
Except it’s not

All connections good I checked
All fuses good all connections good
Points to a failed 02 sensor

This was when I had the truck running and ready to do the test driving
Eddie was just about to board the train
There is nothing I can do

I will be taking this thing apart until I figure it out
We are out of time

Almost and I mean almost just lost it

 

[allmyEXes]

Dang! Is that a 5 or 6 wire wideband o2 sensor?

 

[Josh P]

That Ranger is like a kid that doesn't want to leave home.

 

[410Fortune]

6 Bosch lcu4.2 or some crap
Even if I can get one in town it leaves no time for testing, can’t drive it like this. Can’t ride the train here haven’t heard from Eddie other then he was getting ready to board? Or leave or? Probably Hates me now

Literally everything was fine until the final test run, can’t make this up I’m sooo over it

Now it says RED on the air to fuel and nothing I do is working

Battery voltage good
Checked wiring from Holley to 02 sensor
Checked all fuses

No 02 sensor in town I just checked

 

[allmyEXes]

LSU 4.9 ? Maybe?

 

[410Fortune]

Bosch 17025 in stock in town im leaving now it’s 2:30 Eddie boards at 5:30 he cannot change his ticket the day of

Here we go

 

[allmyEXes]

Yep! I was about to say Advance should have it.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

was going to say (if you havent already) remove power and try again. if you unplugged the 02, look at the prongs on both sides. they are very finicky. also check your pm's. send you something you need to read.